Ryan Sheckler

Ryan Allen Sheckler (born December 30, 1989) is an American professional skateboarder. He is also the star of the MTV reality show, Life of Ryan.

Sheckler was born in San Clemente, California, to Randy and Gretchen Sheckler. He has two brothers, Shane and Kane. At the age of 18 months, Sheckler found his dad's old school skateboard. Sheckler taught himself to push it around by using one knee, and eventually stood up on the skateboard. Since the age of 6, he spent up to 22 hours a week practicing tricks in his backyard - which includes a half pipe, table tops and several grind rails. He developed his own trick called the Sheck-lair - an indy kickflip flyout. He turned professional in 2003 after winning in the X Games, Gravity Games, Vans Triple Crown and Slam City Jam.

Sheckler's career took shape during the summer of 1995, when Sheckler's dad built him and his friends a new quarter pipe along with a few other additions making it a small skate park. A few years later, he joined the CASL (California Amateur Skateboarding League) and entered one of their contests and won. He idolized Tony Hawk and wanted to invite him to his seventh birthday party. Hawk attended the party and took some time to practice with Sheckler. During 1997-2001 Sheckler was winning the CASL state championships, where he picked up his first eye wear sponsor, Arnette, the same company sponsoring Tony Hawk. In 2004 he was named the World Cup of Skateboarding’s National Street Champion. In 2005, he was named the World Cup of Skateboarding’s National Street Champion and the Dew Action Sports Tour Athlete of the Year. For 2006, he won the Global Assault in Australia and finished fifth at the Tampa Pro in Florida. Ryan has had roles in the movies Grind and MVP 2: Most Vertical Primate, and stars in his own MTV reality show "Life of Ryan". Ryan has also recently become a spokesperson for Proactiv Solution.